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Effect of Storage Conditions on Nitrosated, Acylated, and Oxidized Pyridine Alkaloid Derivatives in Smokeless Tobacco Products¹

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service [R. A. A., P. D. F.], Department of Agronomy [R. A. A., H. R. B., P. D. F.], and Department of Horticulture [T. R. H-K.], University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546

Very large concentration increases in nitrite (34-fold), nitrosated pyridine alkaloids, and related 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) (14- to 33-fold) occurred in moist snuff during storage at 24°C for 52 weeks, whereas, decreases in all parent and some acylated pyridine alkaloids were observed in the same material. Nitrite concentrations in dry snuff decreased up to 90% during storage; increased contents of nitrosated alkaloids and NNK of 30 to 80% were also observed. Storage effects on chewing tobacco included a 75% increase in nitrite and small increases of nitrosated alkaloids and NNK. Sums of parent alkaloids in moist snuff decreased 24 and 54% after storage for 24 weeks at 24 and 32°C, respectively, while sums of alkaloid derivatives increased, up to 36-fold for nitrosated alkaloids and NNK, 92% for acylated, and 133% for oxidized components. Levels of N'-nitrosonornicotine, NNK, and N'-nitrosoanatabine after 52 weeks' storage at 24°C were 547, 41, and 296% higher, respectively, in ambient air-exposed moist snuff than in the nonexposed counterpart.

A mathematical model was evaluated and used to calibrate nonlinear gas chromatography alkali bead detector response to the individual components. This permitted the use of a single analysis for all required individual compounds over a wide concentration range.

¹ This investigation is in connection with a project at the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. The results are published as KAES Journal Article 89-3-66.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 3/27/89. Revised 7/ 5/89. Accepted 8/ 4/89.